The Civil Society and Expert Group of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption (CSEG APPG-IGAR) calls for clear timelines and decisive implementation of Malaysia’s institutional reform agenda within the current parliamentary term.
Reform commitments must now translate into effective laws, independent institutions and enforceable accountability mechanisms that remain strong and credible regardless of changes in political leadership.
The group therefore calls for immediate and substantive progress on six critical institutional reforms within the current parliamentary term.
Separation of attorney general and public prosecutor
This separation must be implemented within the current parliamentary term, with genuine prosecutorial independence and clear accountability to Parliament.
The government must set a clear timeline and ensure that all necessary enabling legislation, consequential amendments and institutional safeguards are in place, as the constitutional amendment alone is insufficient without a framework that clearly defines the powers, functions, independence and accountability of both offices.
Freedom of information
A freedom of information law must guarantee meaningful and enforceable access to information, not transparency at the discretion of institutions. CSEG APPG-IGAR calls for provisions that ensure:
- Robust public interest and harm tests
- Narrowly defined exemptions
- Independent enforcement
- An effective appeals mechanism
- A careful review of any provision that could weaken the right of access to information
Should the ombudsman framework not proceed, an independent statutory freedom of information commission should be considered to oversee implementation, compliance and appeals. Transparency must not be discretionary; it must be guaranteed by law.
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Political financing
Malaysia must not enter another general election without clear and enforceable political financing rules in force.
CSEG APPG-IGAR calls for legislation requiring:
- Mandatory disclosure of political donations, party assets and income
- Independently audited accounts
- Clear contribution and expenditure limits
- Transparency over corporate donations
- Public funding of parties
- Meaningful penalties for non-compliance, backed by an independent regulatory mechanism with effective enforcement powers.
The public has a right to know who finances political parties, and this law must be in place before the next general election.
MACC reform
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s independence must be secured by law and institutional safeguards, not dependent on individual office-holders.
CSEG APPG-IGAR calls for:
- A transparent appointments process and clear removal mechanisms
- Operational independence
- Strengthened oversight panels
- Effective parliamentary oversight
- Robust checks and balances
- Greater transparency and accountability in the exercise of MACC’s statutory powers
Institutions must be stronger than individuals, and the fight against corruption must remain credible regardless of who holds power.
Parliamentary Service Act
Parliamentary reform must deliver real institutional independence, not autonomy in name alone.
CSEG APPG-IGAR calls for reforms to strengthen:
- An independent parliamentary legislative drafting office
- Greater financial autonomy, supported by a parliamentary budget office
- Stronger accountability of the Parliamentary Service Council
- Safeguards against institutional capture and political patronage
- Safeguards against excessive concentration of authority
Parliament cannot be truly independent if it can debate laws but lacks the institutional capacity to research, scrutinise, draft and amend them independently of the executive.
Electoral reform
Electoral reform must deliver clear rules, transparent political spending and credible enforcement.
CSEG APPG-IGAR calls for urgent reform of the Election Offences Act 1954 to address:
- Campaign expenditure
- Audited financial disclosure
- Party and third-party spending
- Digital campaigning and paid influencers
- Misuse of government machinery
- Postal voting
- Emerging AI-related risks
Most importantly, the Electoral Commission must be equipped and empowered to investigate, audit and enforce electoral rules within its mandate. Electoral rules are only as credible as their enforcement.
We demand delivery. Institutional reform must go beyond announcements and the passing of laws. Every reform must have a clear timeline, proper implementation mechanism, strong accountability and effective safeguards to ensure that it works in practice.
CSEG APPG-IGAR calls on the government, Parliament and relevant institutions to complete these key reforms within the current parliamentary term.
The group will continue to monitor progress and engage with parliamentary select committees and key stakeholders to ensure that reform commitments are translated into meaningful, effective and lasting institutional change.
Issued by Civil Society and Experts to APPG-IGAR
- Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar Tan Sri Nazir Razak
- Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub Datuk Dr Anis Yusal Yusoff
- Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez Shah Hakim Zain
- Maha Balakrisnan
- Christopher Leong
- Cynthia Gabriel
- Karen Cheah Yee Lynn
- Anas Zubedy
- Nurhayati Nordin, Rasuah Busters
- Faisal Abdul Aziz, Bersih
- Prishanth Linggaraj, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)
- Badlishah Sham Baharin, Ikram
- Aira Azhari, Ideasa
- Tharma Pillai, Undi18
- Dr Raymon Ram, Transparency International Malaysia
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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